
66 



NEW Bi^UNSWfCH DURING 

THE WAR OF 1812." 



By JOHN P. WALL. 





Glass _ F1l4 4 



PRESENTED BY 



^<^ f,-0^a)X, 



"NEW BRUNSWICK DURING 

THE WAR OF 1812.'' 



By JOHN R WALL. 



Paper Read Before the New Brunswick Historical Club, 
Fine Arts Building, Rutgers College, Thursday- 
Evening, March 21, J 90 1. 



Let us go back to-nis:ht and take a 
peep at our old city, just previous to 
and during the stirring and eventful 
times that marked the second decade of 
the nineteenth century. In those days 
there was an almost solid pine forest 
along the banks of the river, as far up 
as the Landing Bridge. The factory 
district was a swamp, having much the 
same appearance as that which the op- 
posite bank of the river now presents. 
The canal had not been built, but in- 
stead, private docks and piers jutted 
out into the river for the reception of 
freight. There were fertile fields where 
dwellings now stand, and trees 
stretched away from the river in un- 
even rows or dotted the surrounding 
country in clumps. Grass waved and 
orchards bloomed on the land now lost 
under buildings for manufacture and 
commerce, while cattle roamed at will 
over the pastures of the now fashion- 
able Livingston avenue, and the lovers 
strolled along the footpaths that led 
out under the branching boughs of the 
willow trees that lined the banks of 
Lyle Brook. 

The populatioa was not large, yet 
the inhabitants were congratulating 
themselves upon Its rapid increase. 
According to the census of 1810, which 
had then just been made public, the 
number of free white males and fe- 
males in New Brunswick was 2,820, 
number of free blacks 52, number of 
slaves ICA, making a total of 3,042. 
The population in 1800 was 2.025, mak- 



ing a total gain in ten years of 1,017, 
something for which the citizens justly 
felt proud. The number of dwellings 
was 375, and the number of families 
4G9. It will be seen that there was 
an average of about one and one-fourth 
family for each dwelling house, and the 
number of free whites to the family 
was a fraction above six. Those are 
official figures, published at that time. 

Communication was had by stage- 
coach to Elizabeth and New York, also 
to Trenton and Philadelphia, and by 
water through a line of sloops carry- 
ing freight and passengers to New 
York, Albany, Troy and other ports. 
The principal sloops and their masters 
at that time were about the following: 
The Packet, Horace Dowd, master; 
the Henrietta, Henderson Moore, mas- 
ter; the Fox, George Fisher, master; 
the Greyhound, Benjamin Taylor, mas- 
ter; the James, Peter Van Deripe, mas- 
ter; the Golden Age, W. Williamson, 
master. These boats left the wharves 
of James Sohureman & Son, Phineas 
Carmen, Abeel & Williamson and of 
John Neilson & Son, at stated alternate 
intervals. 

The newspapers of that date were the 
Fredonian, which was a staunch sup- 
porter of the National Administration, 
and a red-hot advocate of war, and the 
Guardian, or New Brunswick Adver- 
tiser, edited by. Mr. Blauvelt, and be- 
ing just as much opposed to the policy 
of the Government. They were weekly 
editions. The Guardian became the 



Times and General Advertiser on April 
IS, 181 G. 

The mail facilities depended entirely 
upon ihow good the roads were — if they 
were good and dry you got your mail; 
if they were muddy, you had to wait 
for it. 

The religious denominations and the 
date of their organizations were, as 
nearly as can be ascertained: The Re- 
formed (Town Clock) Church, 1717; 
Christ Church, 1742; Presbyterian, 
172<>; Baptist, ISIO; Methodist Episco- 
pal. 1811. 

The banks were the New Brunswick 
Bank, chartered in 1807, and the State 
Bank, chartered in 1812. 

Among the leading business men at 
that time were: Ayes & Freeman, Den. 
nis & Kinnan, Peter Buckelew, Queen 
street; R. S. Garretson, Church street; 
Van Dorn, Beekman & Company, Dun- 
ham Brothers, who kept general stores ; 
Peter Perrine had a cut nail factory 
opposite the Dutch Church; James 
Richmond offered pine boards for sale; 
James Moger was in business at the 
corner of George and Somerset streets; 
Isreal Freeman had two coach and sign 
painting establishments, one on 
Schureman street and the other on Al- 
bany street; L. Deare thought the peo- 
ple would like to have wall paper, so 
he sold it; K. Newell & Company had 
a very fine assortment of dry goods, 
good brandy and raisins at their store, 
corner of Church and Queen streets; 
Schuremian, Perrine & Company had an 
elegant lot of shad that they would like 
to sell; John C. Davie and Samuel 
Hunt flattered themselves that they 
knew just the right thing about cloth- 
ing; James Seabrook thought the 
same; Marinus W. Warne kept the 
"Sign of the Padlock," opposite the new 
market; Simpson & Bray had fish to 
•sell on the wharf near the old market; 
Samuel Walker had an intelligence of- 
fice on Churcih street; James Harriott 
sold white lead and oil; Robert East- 
burn, Sr., Church street, "Dealer in 
Drugs, Bed Tickens, Paint, Books on 
History and Divinity, also Dye Woods 
and Family Medicine Chests;" Benja- 
min Farner, manufacturer of tobacco; 
Stephen Scale, pump maker, Church 
Street; Thomas McDcrwell, coach mak- 
er, Schureman street; Moses Guest, 
shoes and groceries, Burnet street; Mr. 
Desabaye sold piano fortes on George 



street, opposite the new college; Hen- 
ry Plum, brass foundry, north side of 
Church street; Thomas Eastburn, por- 
ter and ale, also hardware. Church 
street; John Dorey operated the New 
Brunswick Brewery; Henry C. Guest 
& Company, dry goods and groceries. 
Water street; William Nald, book 
binding; Samuel H. Day supplied the 
ladies with millinery and shoes at his 
store, on Burnet street; Charles Rais- 
beck, saddler. Queen street. The 
White Hall Tavern was kept by Mt. 
Degraw; Bernard S. Judah, dealer in 
oil and window elass. Burnet street; 
Edward Sullivan, Burnet street, oppo- 
site the old market, a general assort- 
ment of shovelis and tongs, copper tea 
kettles, groceries, looking-glasses and 
dry goods; John Van Nuis and Nathan- 
iel McChesney, coach makers, Albany 
street; Wm. Roland carried on the 
same business on Schureman street, 
while Joslin & Mulford made harness 
at their shop on Albany street; Price 
& Meeker, cabinet imakers, i^hurch 
street; E. J. Mackey, earthenware, Lib- 
erty and George streets; Thomas Let- 
son kept a constant supply of wool for 
spinning and hatters' use; Aaron M. 
Freeman was a harness maker, of 
Peace street, who would supply infan- 
try caps for the soldiers; Richard 
Churchwood sold claims, and George 
White offered for sale at his store, cor- 
ner of Burnet and New streets, a nice 
line of shovels, molasses, Jews' harps, 
muslin, gun flints, lump sugar, bel- 
lows, cork screws and anything else 
you wanted; Captain Powers kept a 
tavern next-door, where you could 
"slake ycur thirst;" Douwe D. William- 
son and David Abeel had an iron 
mongery and lumber yard on Burnet 
street; they were also the leading ship- 
ping agents of this district at that 
time; ,Mr. Williamson later became 
Comptroller of New York City; Mary 
Ann Guest thought that the ladies 
needed a supply of French, so she 
opened a school for that purpose, 
while S. C. Aiken wanted your five dol- 
lars, for which he would teach you to 
write in return at Mrs. Hunt's Hotel, 
on George street. 

Josiah Simpson had a book and sta- 
tionery store on Albany street, about 
the foot of Easton avenue, to which 
was attached a circulating library. 
This establishment was transferred to 



P. 
Author. 

' S. '0? 



•js 



cii^ 



Charles D. Greene and others earlv in 
January, 1S12, who greatly enlarged 
the circulating library. Dr. Ira Con- 
diet also had a private circulating li- 
brary, to which a person could become 
a memher by paying a small annual 
due. Dr. Condict died in livll and his 
library was sold. 

Mr. Kennedy, of New York, opened 
a dancing academy in this city early 
in January, 1812. His days of tuition 
were Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 
three until six in the afternoon for la- 
dies, and from seven until ten for gen- 
tlemen. "Publics" were held on 
Thursdays at Dr. Drakes. 

Mr. Berault held dancing school in 
the long room of Mr. Keyworlh's tav- 
ern, where a notice told you that no 
gentleman was allowed to dance with 
boots on, on public evenings. 

Of course, the people had to have a 
little enjoyment, so on May 2H, 1812, 
"A Living Elephant, 11 years old, up- 
wards of 8 feet hizh, and in weight 
more than 4,700 lbs.." was to be seen 
"Now or Never" at Keenon's Tavern. 
Admittance, 25c. Children half price. 
"Well, as usual, every one went to see 
the elephant. Not being satisfied with 
that, Mr. Potter, the West Indian, gave 
a grand display of his natural but la- 
borious powers of ventriloquism. Per- 
formance began at early candle-light. 

About this time the college authori- 
ties had added new buildings to their 
possessions and were very hard pressed 
for funds. Various schemes were of- 
fered to raise the necessary money, but 
the one that met the most favor was 
that of a lottery. On Octoher 21, 1811, 
a number of citizens held a meeting for 
the purpose of taking action looking 
toward securing a grant to- the trustees 
of Queen's College for such a purpose. 
Asa Runyon was made chairman and 
"William P. Dear clerk; Josiah Simp- 
son, Thomas Hill, Thomas Hance, 
Squire Martin and John Herd were ap- 
pointed a committee to draft a peti- 
tion and circulate it among the citi- 
zens for their signatures. James 
Schureraan and Robert Boggs were ap- 
pointed a committee by the Board of 
Trustees of the college to present the 
petition to the Legislature. They did 
so and a charter for the lottery was 
granted in January, 1812. The first 
drawing took place on the first Monday 



in October, 1S12. Lewis Dunham, 
Staats Van Deursen and Henry South- 
ard were the managers. 

On December 2, 1811, the Washing- 
ton Benevolent Society was organized 
at the tavern of Nicholas Van Brunt, 
on Albany street. Ihis was an organi- 
zation that had grown very strong 
through New Jersey and was opposed 
to President Madison and his foreiga 
policy. In a very short time it became 
the leading patriotic society of the 
city, and made preparations for public 
meetings and parades, the most notable 
of w'nich were held every Fourth 0[ 
July, "ihe leading spirits in this were: 
John Dennis, C. H. Hardenbergh, John 
Deare, Colonel John Neilson, Abraham 
Blauvelt, John N. Simpson, R. V. Beek. 
mau, John Flutchins, John K. Jolin, 
Nicholas Van Brunt, John Elmendoif, 
Alexander Laird, James Schiiremau 
and several others. The officers were: 
President, James Schureman; Vice- 
President, John Dennis; Secretary, 
Cornelius L. Hardenbergh; Treasurer, 
Colonel John Neilson. A hall was 
built by Nicholas Van Brunt for the 
I'Se of this organization and was for- 
mally dedicated on July 4, 1813. The 
ceremonies consisted of a grand parade, 
followed by a banquet, at which the 
local orators got off the usual amount 
of oratorical pyrothetics. 

On November 2, 1812, Governor Og- 
den passed through this city on his 
way to Trenton. He was met at Clark- 
son's Tavern by Captain Veg'hte's com- 
pany of Light Dragoons, handsomely 
uniformed, and a large number of 
citizens on horseback, who accompa- 
nied him to the heights beyond the vil- 
lage, where Captain Neilson's company 
of artillery and Captain Scott's com- 
pany of infantry, attended by the Ar- 
tillery Band, awaited his arrival. The 
irocession proceeded to Dr. Drake's 
Queen's Hotel, where he was officially 
welcomed by Mayor Schureman in a 
short and impressive address, to which 
his Excellency made answer in a fitting 
manner. After dinner he was accom- 
panied by the dragoons and a delega- 
tion of citizens as far as Princeton. 

Colonel Fenwick and his army sur- 
geon. Dr. Lewis Dunham, Jr., arrived 
in this city on the 20th of the same 
month. The Colonel was severely 
wounded at the storming of Queens- 
town, Canada. "While in this city he 



•was the guest of Dr. Lewis Dunham, 
Si\, at his home, on Burnet street. The 
citizens, and particularly the members 
of the Artillery band, vied with each 
o.her in their efforts to do him honor. 
On December 9, 1S12, immediately on 
the intelligence of the victory of Cap- 
tain Decatur over the frigate Mace- 
donian, the band assembled and ser- 
enaded on the occasion. On the day 
following they again assembled at six 
o'clock in the morning and saluted the 
officers and about seventy of the brave 
tars of the U. S. S. Wasp, who were on 
their way to Washington. 

Lieutenant Claxon, on behalf of his 
brave men, and particularly in regard 
to the attention paid to him personally, 
expressed himself very handsomely. It 
was generally regretted that the citi- 
zens did not have an o^nortunity to 
pay their respects to Captain Jones be- 
fore he left our city. 

A number of New Brunswick boys 
were on board the Wasp at the time 
of her fight with the Frolic. The 
Macedonian was used by the United 
States as a war vessel after her cap- 
ture. John Dennis, Jr., aged 14, of 
this city, was a midshipman on board 
her. He was wounded, and died at 
Brooklyn on March 28, 1813, where he 
was buried in the Naval Cemetery. 

David Dustin, also of this city, had 
charge of and fought the ship William 
against the Java on December 8, 1813. 
The William was captured and sent to 
San Salvador, Brazil, where it was re- 
captured by the Hornet on December 
28, under the gallant Captain Law- 
rence. 

A detachment of ninety troops of 
the Fifth Regular U. S. Infantry, undor 
Captain Johnson, encamiped here on 
the night of April 17, 1812. They were 
on their way from Ellison's Island to 
Carlisle, Pa. 

As the war progressed politics grew 
bitter, and one of the createst cam- 
paigns that ever took place in this dis- 
trict was the one of Jannarv 1813, 
when James Schureman, of this city, 
was elected to Congress on a peace 
ticket. At that time this city was 
partly in North Brunswick and Frank- 
lin townships, the centre of Albany 
street forming the boundary, and caus- 
ing considerable annoyance to the 
voters. 
The country at this time was divided 



on the war issue, and party feeling in 
this city was very higih. Bernard 
Smith, the Postmaster; John P. Cow- 
enhoven, James Randolph and Jarvis 
Brewster were the leaders of the war 
party and the Schuremans, Neilsons, 
Hardenberghs and Elmendorfs lined, up 
in favor of peace. Things were very 
lively and the political pot was hot. 
Meetings were held on one night to de- 
nounce the war and on the next in 
favor of it. At all of the elections held 
in this city and county at that time 
the peace party dominated. But as the 
war progressed the citizens did not 
fail in their patriotism, and it was not 
long before New Brunswick was well 
represented in the armv and navy. 

On the 15th of April, 1812, a requi- 
sition was made by the United States 
Government upon this State for 5.000 
men, who were furnished and nlaced 
under Major-General Ludlow. The 
New Jersey Legislature on November 
9, 1812, passed resolutions deprecating 
the war. On November 10 a general 
order was issued reauiring all com- 
panies, whether of cavalry, artillery, 
light infantry or riflemen to hold them- 
selves in readiness to take the field in 
twenty-four hours' notice. The com- 
panies in this city made all necessary 
preparations. On December 10, 1812, 
the following notice was issued to the 
members of the artillery company: 

ATTENTION— THE WHOLE 

"The undersigned, a committee ap- 
poited by the Artillery Company of 
the city of New Brunswick, for^ the 
purpose of procuring knapsacks, give 
notice to their brother-soldiers of said 
company that they are procured, hand- 
somely painted, and are now ready for 
delivery at the store of Amos Flagg, 
one of the committee. From the mili- 
tary ardor and zeal at all times dis- 
played by the members of this com-* 
pany, the committee feels a satisfac- 
tion in being thus able so promptly to 
meet their wishes, by placing them in 
a state of readiness to answer with 
alacrity such call as may be made upon 
them by our worthy Chief. 

"ABRAHAM DeGRAW. 
"JOSEPH DILKS, 
"AMOS FLAGG, 

"Committee." 



It was not until the second call was 
made, on July 14, 1814, that New 
Brunswick had her oatriotism thor- 
oughly aroused, and promptly fur- 
nished four fully uniformed and armed 
companies, as follows: The New Bruns- 
wick Artillery, Captain Neilson; New 
Brunswick Horse Artillery. Captain 
Van Dyke; Captain Scott's Light In- 
fantry and the New Brunswick Rifles, 
under Captain McKay. These com- 
panies were ordered to hold themselves 
in readiness to march under orders 
from Brigadier-General William Cole- 
fax, who was in command at Paulus 
Hook. 

The Brigade Judge Advocate tor Mid- 
dlesex County was William Dunham, 
and the Brigade Board met at the tav- 
ern of Colonel Peter Keenon once a 
month for the transaction of business 
relative to the militia of the county. 

The citizens were very much afraid 
of an attack on the city by the British, 
and it was suggested that every man 
who could afford it should provide him- 
self with a gun and twenty-four rounds 
of ball cartridges, or some other ef- 
fectual weapon of war. Also that a 
code of signals be arranged between 
Perth Amiboy and this city, to be used 
in case the enemy should enter the 
river at that place. No definite action 
was taken looking towards the safety 
of the city, which was the central 
meeting place of the militia of the sur- 
rounding country. 

Even then, in the days of the stage- 
coach, you were not sure of your life, 
for on April 28, 1813, Tunis Higgins got 
in the way of William Trasp's coach 
as it rolled in at Nicholas Van Brunt's 
tavern on its arrival from Elizabeth- 
town. He died in about an hour. He 
was a Conscript and had come to this 
city to join the Somerset County Mili- 
tia, who were assembled bere for the 
purpose of marching to the seacoast 
in conformity with general orders. 

A great deal of bitterness and ill- 
feeling was evident and deep-rooted 
amongst the Conscripts. They de- 
nounced the regular troops, and par- 
ticularly their officers, under the com- 
mand of whom they were to serve. The 
militia claimed that they could not be 
forced to do garrison duty, or any 
of the other duties required of 
the standing army. No more than that 
could they be compelled to leave their 



own State to wage a foreign war. They 
claimed the duty of the militia to be 
spontaneous and self-defensive, found- 
ed on the bare supposition that every 
man must feel the irresistible necessity 
of fighting for his family, himself, his 
property and all those who^ were dear 
to him. Removed from beyond the 
boundary of his own neighborhood he 
had to fight the battles of others. The 
militia were drafted and driven from 
their homes to be sent to the camps 
at Middleton and the Highlands, 
where they were put under the regu- 
lar army ofliicers. Ihis was not to 
their liking, and, to add to their dis- 
content, they did not get proper care 
or food. The consequence was that 
they left for their homes in groups at 
every chance they had. They did not 
feel that they were deserters or ought 
to be treated as such. 

A party of them arrived in this city 
on their way home on July 5, 1813. 
They had hardly entered the town be- 
fore a troop of horsemen, belonging to 
the regular army, came up with them 
and captured nearly all the deserters. 
In doing so a free fight was precipitat- 
ed, in which the town people took part, 
as they were highly incensed at the 
treatment the militia got at the hands 
of the regulars, who abused and swore 
at the men they had captured for the 
bother they had given them by leaving 
camp. The feeling of the citizens can 
be realized when it is known that 
hardly a tavern-keeper in town would 
sell them a drink. 

Disturbances of this sort were very 
frequent and Mayor Schureman took 
a personal (hand in the matter. Com- 
mon Council appointed a special com- 
mittee to make a protest against any 
more of the militia of this section be- 
ing sent out of the State. 

On June 18, 1813, Common Council 
appointed Mr. Robert Boggs a commit- 
tee to wait on the Governor in refer- 
ence to the defenceless condition of 
the city. He did so and the Governor 
promised to do what he could. He did 
nothinir. 

The companies that volunteered 
from this city did so with the distinct 
understanding that they were to be left 
in a position to defend the river and 
city in case of an attack. 

On September 11, 1814, Councilmen 
Boggs, Simpson and Van Dyke were 



appointed a committee to inquire into 
how the city was provided in case of 
an attack. They reported that there 
were three companies of militia in 
town, but they were not armed and 
suggested that a requisition be made 
on the Governor for arms; also that 
the four uniformed companies of this 
place, which consisted of the only men 
provided with arms or other means of 
defence, having offered tihsir services 
as volunteers to the Commander-in- 
Chief of the State on condition that 
they were to be so stationed that they 
could afford the city protection, and in 
opposition to this provision, they were 
ordered out of the State, some of 
them to build forts in New York Har- 
bor, and others to Staiten Island and 
Jersey City, to join the other militia 
of the State. Therefore, we recom- 
mend that a peremptory demand l)e 
made on the Commander-in-Chief for 
the return of our soldiers, and that a 
protest be filed against the action of 
sending them away from the immedi- 
ate vicinity of the Raritan River; also 
that some means be taken to fortify 
the river and put it in a position to re- 
sist an attack by water should one be 
made; also that some means be taken 
to raise the necessary funds to build 
the said fortifications. 

The report was received and adopted. 
Several other committees were ap- 
pointed for different purposes in refer- 
ence to the war, but none of them ac- 
complished anything of practical 
value. 

The trouble was that the States did 
not recognize the allegiance that they 
owed to the National Government, 
something that was not settled until 
after the Civil War. 

On May 20, 1813, Rev. Jacob J. Jane- 
way, clerk of the General Assembly of 
the Presbyterian Church, issued on 
their behalf a request that the first 
Thursday in August be set aside as a 
day of prayer for the speedy ending 
of the horrors of war. The day was 
observed by most churches, but it was 
not until December 24, 1814, the eve 
of the anniversary of the birth of the 
Prince of Peace, that the Treaty of 
Ghent was signed 



In February, 181.j, on receipt of the 
news of the signing of the treaty of 
peace, a special meeting of Common 
Council was called for the purpose of 
taking some official action on the wel- 
come intelligence. Councilmen Hance, 
Duychinck and Dayton were apiiointed 
a committee to report on what action 
ought to be taken. The result of their 
deliberations was the followins: 

PROCLAMATION. 

To the Citizens of New Brunswick, 
N. J.: 

Common Council congratulates the 
citizens of New Brunswick on the 
restoration of peace to our county and 
mingle their emotions of joy with those 
of their fellow-citizens generally, in 
participating in the pleasing sensa- 
tions which this glad tidings have 
produced, while we acknowledge with 
gratitude the iterposition ol Divine 
Providence on bringing about this joy- 
ful event, it is incumhent on us to 
demonstrate our feelings by some gen- 
eral public exhibition. Under these 
impressions Common Council recom- 
mends that the citizens of New Bruns- 
wick illuminate the city as an express- 
ive mode of displaying the public sen- 
timent and feelina- on an occasion so 
interesting and important, and a prop- 
er comibining of the public rejoicing 
on the occasion with that of a grateful 
country. 

Resolved, That a Federal salute be 
fired on the day of the celebration, and 
that the public buildings be illumi- 
nated at a cost of not more than fifty 
dollars. 

Resolved, That the recommendations 
to the citizens be published in hand- 
bills, and that 400 copies be printed 
and distributed. 

(Official) JAMES BiENNETT, 

Attest: Mayor. 

LEAVIS CARMEN, 

Town Clerk. 

The flags and banners waved anew, 
the cannon boomed, but not the boom 
of war. the eagle screeched the 
sereecih of victory, and New Bruns- 
wick, during the War of 1812, was a 
thing of the pa.st. 



btP 101902 



